Freight terminal plan gets development consent

Associated British Ports said its proposed facility would be able to handle up to 660,000 units per year

Plans for a new £100m freight ferry terminal at Immingham have been granted development consent by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.

The Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal proposed by Associated British Ports (ABP) will include a roll-on, roll-off facility and a new jetty.

It also features three berths, improved surfaces, terminal buildings and a bridge to cross over the existing port.

ABP, which owns and operates the Port of Immingham, said the facility would be able to handle up to 660,000 units per year on ferries operated by Sweden's Stena Line.

It will see the relocation of Stena's existing Immingham freight operation to the new site, allowing quicker sailing and creating space for larger vessels.

The Swedish ferry company, which currently runs four daily freight services from the Humber to The Netherlands, relocated its Rotterdam freight service to Immingham, the largest port in the UK by tonnage.

It is due to operate the new terminal for the next 50 years.

The application was submitted by ABP to the planning inspectorate on 10 February 2023 and was accepted for examination on 6 March 2023.

Local people, the local authority and council members were able to participate in the six-month examination.

The Examining Authority gave full consideration to all local views before presenting its recommendation to Ms Haigh, who granted consent for the application on Friday.

There is now a six-week period in which people can challenge the decision in the High Court.

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